Likelihood for Shout!Factory Release
List by Travis Hosey
Welcome to the Likeliness
for Shout Factory release list (formerly Likeliness for Rhino release
list). I have spent a lot of time researching and assembling
information and have tried to make it as accurate as possible.
I’m constantly trying to update it and fill in the places
where I don’t have enough information or positive
confirmation. So any additional help would be great.
First off I try to provide
the company or person who have the home
video rights. When I can’t get positive confirmation on that,
I try to at least provide the copyright holder, TV rights holder, or
original production company. Many of these titles have only been
released on VHS (if that), some going back to the video heyday of the
1980s. The movie rights may have reverted back to their original
owners, broken off and sold as libraries were bought up by bigger
companies (Lions Gate, MGM, etc.), or just simply
“lost.”
I base my
“Likelihood” grades mainly on what I know
(or have read) on the company or individual who owns the film(s). Big
studios like MGM, Universal, Paramount and Sony would probably not
think twice about licensing any of their catalog titles to Shout
Factory. Even the ones that have 0-market potential UnMSTied and
probably will never be released to DVD. “Don’t they
want to make money of these turkeys?” Yes, but most likely
they’d only be interested if they’d get all the
profit or they’d ask for too high a price. This is very
unfortunate, as some of the best episodes are under the control of
these giants. Fortunately, many of the movies featured on MST3k were
independent productions and are now owned by small companies
who’d like to make the most money they can off their
properties!
PD = Public domain
SEASON ONE:
101- The Crawling
Eye Image Entertainment (licensed from
Wade Williams). *DVD released by Image Entertainment* <NOT
LIKELY>
107- Robot Monster
Image Entertainment (licensed from Wade Williams).
*DVD released by Image Entertainment* <NOT LIKELY>
108- The Slime
People Rhino. *DVD released by Rhino Home
Video (out of print)* <LIKELY>
109- Project
Moonbase Image Entertainment (licensed from
Wade Williams). *DVD released by Image Entertainment* <NOT
LIKELY>
110- Robot Holocaust
MGM. <EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
111- Moon Zero Two
Warner. <EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
112- Untamed Youth
Warner. <EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
113- The Black
Scorpion Warner. *DVD released by Warner*
<EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
SEASON TWO:
201- Rocketship X-M
Image Entertainment (licensed from Wade
Williams). *DVD released by Image Entertainment* <NOT
LIKELY>
203- Jungle Goddess
VCI (licensed from Kit Parker Films).
*DVD released by VCI w/ "Thunder in the Pines"* <LIKELY>
205- Rocket Attack
USA Parasol Group/Applause Networks Inc.
Columbia-Tristar released this on VHS in 1990. <LIKELY>
208- Lost Continent
Image Entertainment (licensed from Wade
Williams). *DVD released by Image Entertainment* <NOT
LIKELY>
210- King Dinosaur
VCI (licensed from Kit Parker Films).
*Released on DVD by VCI Video w/ "The Jungle"* <LIKELY>
213- Godzilla vs.
the Sea Monster Sony (licensed from Toho).
*DVD released by Sony* <EXTREMELY-UNLIKELY>
SEASON THREE:
302 – Gamera Neptune Media. King Features
Entertainment/Sandy Frank Productions no longer have the rights to the
60s/70s Gamera films. According to Kadakowa, a guy named Bill Ferguson
has the rights now, but he haven't released anything besides a few VHS
tapes in the late 90's. Nor has he or Kadakowa tried to stop all of the
crappy DVDs that have been flooding the market (assuming PD). If Shout
Factory could somehow get through to him, or better yet try going to
Kadakowa... then they could possibly release some of them.
<POSSIBLE>
304- Gamera vs.
Barugon Neptune Media. see #302.
305- Stranded in
Space CBS Paramount Television. They might
be willing to license it to Shout Factory, since it was just a failed
TV pilot/TV movie. FVI has the copyright on their "additions."
<NOT LIKELY>
306- Time of the
Apes Tsuburaya Productions.
<POSSIBLE>
307- Daddy-O
Arkoff Estate. <NOT LIKELY>
308- Gamera vs. Gaos
Neptune Media. see #302
309- The Amazing
Colossal Man Susan Hart (Nicholson Estate).
<EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
310- Fugitive Alien
Tsuburaya Productions.
<POSSIBLE>
311- It Conquered
the World Susan Hart (Nicholson Estate).
<EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
312- Gamera vs.
Guiron Neptune Media. see #302.
313- Earth vs. The
Spider Lions Gate (licensed from the
Arkoff Estate). *DVD released by Lions Gate* <NOT LIKELY>
314- Mighty Jack
Tsuburaya Productions.
<POSSIBLE>
315- Teenage Caveman
Lions Gate (licensed from the Arkoff
Estate). *DVD released by Lions Gate* <NOT LIKELY>
316- Gamera vs.
Zigra Neptune Media. see #302.
317- Viking Women
and the Sea Serpent Lions Gate (licensed
from the Arkoff Estate). *DVD released by Lions Gate* <NOT
LIKELY>
318- Star Force:
Fugitive Alien 2 Tsuburaya Productions.
<POSSIBLE>
319- War of the
Colossal Beast Lions Gate (licensed from
the Arkoff Estate). *DVD released by Lions Gate* <NOT
LIKELY>
322- Master Ninja I
CBS Paramount Television. FVI has a
copyright on their "additions." *DVD released by Platinum Disc
(unauthorized)* <NOT LIKELY>
323- Castle of Fu
Manchu Blue Underground. *DVD released by
Blue Underground* <EXTREMELY-LIKELY>
324- Master Ninja II
CBS Paramount Television. FVI has a
copyright on their "additions." <NOT LIKELY>
SEASON FOUR:
401- Space
Travelers (aka Marooned) Sony. *DVD released by
Sony* <EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
403- City Limits
FVI/INI (or whoever owns the FVI library).
*DVD released by Substance/Jef Films (unauthorized)*
<LIKELY>
405- Being From
Another Planet (aka Time Walker) Anchor Bay
(or possibly MGM). <NOT LIKELY> 411- The Magic Sword
MGM. DVD released by MGM
<EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
412- Hercules and
the Captive Women TaurusFilm GmbH
& Co. has a restored copyright listed. DVD released by
Retromedia & others <EXTREMELY-LIKELY>
415- The Beatniks
PD. DVD released by Alpha Video
<EXTREMELY-LIKELY> 416- Fire Maidens
from Outer Space Lionsgate. <NOT
LIKELY>
417- Crash of Moons
PD. DVD released by Alpha Video, etc
<EXTREMELY-LIKELY>
418- Attack of the
The Eye Creatures Susan Nicholson
Hofheinz appears to have a copyright listed. DVD released by
Retromedia (assuming PD) <NOT LIKELY>
420- The Human
Duplicators not sure yet. Possibly Warner.
VCL Licensing has the most recent copyright listed. Made by Woolner
Brothers Pictures (who have the original copyright). Released on VHS by
Star Classics as Jaws of the Alien. <POSSIBLE/LIKELY>
422- Day the Earth
Froze (aka Sampo) Rigma America
Corporation/Mosfilm Studios. DVD released by Retromedia
(assuming AIP
version is PD) <POSSIBLE>
423- Bride of the
Monster Image Entertainment (licensed from
Wade Williams). Though Legend Films recent DVD suggests the film may be
PD afterall. DVD released by Image Entertainment &
Legend
Films <POSSIBLE/NOT LIKELY>
SEASON FIVE:
502- Hercules
Delta Ventures, Ltd. (The Italian rights
holders managed to restore their copyright). DVD released by
Retromedia & others assuming PD <LIKELY>
505- Magic Voyage
of Sinbad (aka Sadko) Ruscico/Mosfilms.
Retromedia released the AIP version of this w/ "The Day the Earth
Froze" (assuming it is PD). DVD released by Image
Entertainment (out
of print) <POSSIBLE>
508- Operation
Double 007 (aka Operation Kid Brother) MGM/Warner.
<EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
510- The Painted
Hills Warner. DVD released by Alpha Video
& others (assuming PD) <EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
516- Alien from L.A.
MGM. DVD released by MGM
<EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
519- Outlaw of Gor
MGM. <EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
520- Radar Secret
Service VCI (licensed from Kit Parker
Films). <EXTREMELY-LIKELY>
522- Teenage
Crimewave Sony. <EXTREMELY
UNLIKELY>
523- Village of the
Giants MGM. DVD released by MGM
<EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
524- 12 to the Moon
Sony. <EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
SEASON SIX:
601- Girls Town
Lions Gate. <NOT LIKELY>
602- Invasion USA
Synapse Video. Movie seems to be PD. DVD
released by Synapse <EXTREMELY-LIKELY>
605- Colossus and
the Headhunters PD. Original released by
AIP, the rights have surely reverted back to their original
owners. DVD released by Mill Creek Entertainment (assuming PD)
<EXTREMELY-LIKELY>
608- Code Name:
Diamond Head CBS Paramount Television or
Lions Gate (who have the most recent copyright). Since this was just a
failed TV pilot, it has zero market potential UnMSTied on DVD, so there
is a small glimmer of hope I think. <POSSIBLE>
610- The Violent
Years Sinister Cinema/Gregory J Luce. He
also has copyrights registered for “The Dead Talk
Back” and “The Sinister Urge." DVD
released by
Something Weird Video & Alpha <EXTREMELY-LIKELY>
611- Last of the
Wild Horses VCI (licensed from Kit Parker
Films). <EXTREMELY-LIKELY>
614- San Francisco
International Universal.
<EXTREMELY UNLIKELY> 615- Kitten with a Whip Universal.
<EXTREMELY
UNLIKELY>
617- The Sword and
the Dragon (aka Ilya Muromets) Image
Entertainment (licensed from Rusico). DVD released by Image
Entertainment <POSSIBLE>
618- High School
Big Shot PD. DVD released by Something
Weird Video & Alpha Video <EXTREMELY-LIKELY>
620- Danger! Death
Ray (aka Nest of Spies) Films Around the
World / Hilltop Films Inc. Video Mercury also has a copyright
registered for the original Italian version.
<EXTREMELY-LIKELY>
621- Beast of Yucca
Flats Image Entertainment (licensed from
Wade Williams). DVD released by Image Entertainment
<POSSIBLE/NOT LIKELY>
623- The Amazing
Transparent Man MGM. Generally considered
PD, even though it has registered copyrights. Shout Factory could very
well get away with releasing this, as MGM hasn't tried to stop any
other PD releases of their bottom-of-the-barrel catalog titles (Brain
that Wouldn't Die included). DVD released by Alpha &
others
(assuming PD) <POSSIBLE/NOT LIKELY>
624- Samson vs. the
Vampire Women not sure yet. Rafael
Garcia Travesi/Authors Rights Restoration Corporation has a restored
copyright listed. Its possible Vas has the video rights (they've
released a bunch of Santo titles to DVD). DVD released by
Image
Entertainment (out of print) <LIKELY>
SEASON SEVEN:
702- The Brute Man
Image Entertainment. DVD released by
Image Entertainment <POSSIBLE>
703- Death Stalker
and the Warriors From Hell Buena Vista.
Concorde-New Horizons has the copyright (they have the other
Deathstalker titles too), so it's most likely apart of the Corman-BV
deal. <EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
704- The Incredible
Melting Man MGM. <EXTREMELY
UNLIKELY>
705- Escape 2000
Anchor Bay. <POSSIBLE>
SEASON EIGHT:
801- Revenge of the
Creature Universal. DVD released by
Universal <EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
802- Leech Woman
Universal. DVD released by Universal
<EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
803- Mole People
Universal. DVD released by Universal
<EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
804- The Deadly
Mantis Universal. DVD released by
Universal <EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
805- The Thing That
Wouldn’t Die Universal.
<EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
806- The Undead
Arkoff Estate. <NOT LIKELY>
807- Terror from
the Year 5000 Susan Hart. <EXTREMELY
UNLIKELY>
808- The She
Creature Lions Gate (licensed from the Arkoff
Estate). DVD released by Lions Gate <NOT LIKELY>
809- I Was a
Teenage Werewolf Susan Hart. <EXTREMELY
UNLIKELY>
813- Jack Frost
(aka Father Frost) Image Entertainment
(licensed from Ruscico/Gorky Film Studio). DVD released by
Image
Entertainment <POSSIBLE>
814- Riding with
Death Universal. <EXTREMELY
UNLIKELY>
815- Agent from
H.A.R.M. Universal. <EXTREMLY
UNLIKELY>
817- Horror of
Party Beach Dark Sky. DVD released by Dark
Sky <EXTREMELY-LIKELY>
818- Devil Doll Image
Entertainment (licensed from
Galaworldfilm Productions Limited). DVD released by Image
Entertainment <POSSIBLE>
819- Invasion of
the Neptune Men Dark Sky. DVD released by
Dark Sky w/ Prince of Space <EXTREMELY-LIKELY>
SEASON NINE:
901- The Projected
Man Universal. <EXTREMELY
UNLIKELY>
903- The Puma Man
not sure yet. Video Voice Inc/Bedmont
Enterprises has the most recent copyright (see #1008). Indoamericana
Film Ltd has the original copyright. It's possible the movie is with
the original Italian rights holders or whoever has the Cinema Shares
International library. Since this episode was voted #1 in that Rhino
poll awhile back, they must have tried tracking it down... which may
mean the owner wanted too much money. <LIKELY>
905- The Deadly Bees
Paramount. <EXTREMELY
UNLIKELY>
906- The Space
Children Paramount. <EXTREMELY
UNLIKELY>
909- Gorgo
VCI. If VCI owned the TV rights when this episode
aired (only twice), then we can probably forget about getting this
episode released. DVD released by VCI <POSSIBLE/NOT
LIKELY>
910- The Final
Sacrifice (aka Quest For the Lost City) A.I.P. Home Video.
They were the original distributors, and
most likely still are. (Not to be confused with American International
Pictures). Flying Dutchman Productions has the copyright.
<EXTREMELY-LIKELY>
911- Devil Fish
Lions Gate (through owning the Vidmark
library). Video Voice Inc/Bedmont Enterprises also has a copyright
registered (see #1008). <NOT LIKELY>
912- The Screaming
Skull see #623. Also, I’ve been
told the music in the Gumby short is not PD, so this may also be a
problem. <POSSIBLE/NOT LIKELY>
913- Quest of the
Delta Knights Dream Entertainment, Inc.
Plaza Entertainment released a VHS in 1999.
<EXTREMELY-LIKELY>
SEASON TEN:
1005- Blood Waters
of Dr. Z (aka Zaat!) Barton Film Company.
Video Voice Inc/Bedmont Enterprises has the most recent copyright
registered (see #1008). <POSSIBLE/LIKELY>
1007- Track of the
Moonbeast not sure yet. Whoever owns
Prism Entertainment's library or Video Voice Inc/Bedmont Enterprises
(who have the most recent copyright). I couldn't find any information
on "Video Voice Inc" or "Bedmont Enterprises," so I'm not sure if
they're legit or not. Any information on them would be greatly
appreciated! <EXTREMELY-LIKELY>
1010- It Lives by
Night (aka The Bat People) MGM. DVD
released by MGM <EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
1012- Squirm MGM. DVD
released by MGM <EXTREMELY
UNLIKELY>
1013- Diabolik
Paramount. DVD released by Paramount
<EXTREMELY UNLIKELY>
Misc Notes
Public Domain:
PD movies are at the very top of the likelihood lists
for the obvious reason that Shout Factory can release them without
having to pay for them. It’s safe to say that Shout Factory
will end up releasing all of the “true” PD episodes
on future volumes. However, as I’ve done my research,
I’ve discovered many movies that were or are generally
thought to be PD are in fact still under copyright. What often happens
is that the owner of the movie does not bother enforcing their
copyright as all these bargin-bin DVD and VHS releases have flooded the
market. Some “assumed-PD” titles include Night of
the Blood Beast, Beast of Yucca Flats, The Amazing Transparent Man, The
Screaming Skull and The Painted Hills. Also, some of the foreign movies
used on MST3k that are thought to be PD have had their copyrights
restored (like Hercules, Hercules and the Captive Women, and Santa
Claus).
Image Entertainment and
Wade Williams: Many titles featured on MST3k
were released on DVD by Image Entertainment and were licensed by Wade
Williams (who owns, or at least claims to own, many
1950’s/1960’s SciFi films). I’m not sure
what either of their stance is on sub-licensing the MST3k versions to
Shout Factory. The Unearthly and Beginning of the End have been
released UnMSTied by Image on DVD, but both of those were licensed from
Peter Rogers Organization. I’m not sure if Image had anything
to do with Beginning of the End going out of print or if
Rhino’s contract with PRO had simply expired and they wanted
more money to renew it. Anyhow, I’m not sure what Wade
Williams/Corinth Films stance is on MST3k. If it is a positive one,
then all of the WW-owned titles used on MST3k would be bumped up to
“Likely.” But, Vol. 9 may have gone out of print
due (again) to Krypton International licensing Rhino Women of the
Prehistoric Planet… which my research has shown Wade
Williams is the right owner of. Ehck.
As you can see, this all
gets complicated and often comes down to
educated guesses. With the positive exception of a few titles, even the
<Extremely Unlikely>-graded films have a chance of
officially being put out. I hope this list will help fans understand
why their favorite episodes haven’t been put out yet, and aid
them in their tape/DVD-trading choices.
~ Travis Hosey
Here are some of the
resources I've used for finding information:
U.S. Copyright Office
Internet
Movie Database
Amazon
DVD Empire
Ebay
A
Visual History of Video Companies In the '80s
Corinth Films/Wade Williams
Peter Rogers Organization
Kit Parker Films
Alpha Video
Monster Zero message board
.
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